Battles in Time Magazines

For ease, I have compiled the information on the magazines into 4 subpages. Please click on the images to take you there! (Can also be accessed by drop-down menu). If you don't want to go through it all, I have written a condensed version below, more information and images can be accessed by visiting the actual pages.

The test series of Battles in Time was run in the UK's Westcountry and Grampian television areas at a test market to see if Battles in Time would be popular. It released 7 pilot Magazines, a "test set" version of the Exterminator card set comprising only 85 cards, and a "test set" Super Rose. The magazine's Test set "variants" were released only in the South West. They differ from the main release, most notably their covers. Other changes were made internally, explained in the "Main Magazine Series" tab. An eighth issue was planned; however, this was never published. Another difference can be seen in the additional printouts supplied with these early magazines, while most were just slightly altered with a preferred  design, the Test Set magazines also came with a questionnaire. Below are the Test Set printouts, the main set versions can be seen on the Main Magazine tab.

Here you can see a high-definition scan of a Test Release Issue 1, as it was when you bought it. By clicking the directional buttons on the image, you can see the issue without the magazine, and the reverse of the cardboard backing. Although this looks similar to the Main release, there are subtle differences (GE Fabbri, 2006c). 

The picture shows what the sealed Test Issue 2 appeared like when purchased. To clarify, the cellophane packaging used for Test Issue 2 was repurposed for the main release, which explains why the cards on the packaging do not have rarity symbols.

There are some notable differences between the Test Issue 2 and the main release, Issue 2. Firstly, the Tardis requires cutouts to keep the cards in place, which you can see in the image attached in this section. This design feature was added to the main release but not present in Test Issue 2.

Secondly, the front cover design of Test Issue 2 is different from the main release (GE Fabbri, 2006b).

The final "special" in the test run was Issue 3, which was similar to the Main Release version. However, it came with the Test Set Tardis Lid, which had a more rigid design than the Main Set version. This design difference resulted in a more stable Tardis Lid that could withstand more wear and tear. Additionally, the cover of the Tardis Lid was also different from the Main Set version.

The Test Set version and the Main Set version were otherwise similar, with only a few differences. (GE Fabbri, 2006d)

With the success of the Test Run in both the Grampian and West country areas, The Main Release of the magazine was re-launched nationally on the 20th of September 2006, continuing as a fortnightly magazine (GE Fabbri, 2006). A 1-million-pound TV advertising campaign on terrestrial and satellite channels supported it. Nine million copies of the magazine and 1.5 million trading cards were planned to be distributed until the original end date of September 2008, ending on issue 52 (Retail Newsagent, 2006). This plan changed, however, and instead went on to issue 70, ending 9 months later in June 2009. Each magazine came with at least one pack of cards and was available in newsagents nationwide and some superstores such as Sainsbury’s.

Differences between Test Set and Main Set issues 1-7.

The first seven re-launched magazines are a mixture of covers and contents of the pilot issues as follows...


Here you can see a high-definition scan of a Main Release Issue 1, as it was when you bought it. By clicking the directional buttons on the image, you can see the issue without the magazine, and the reverse of the cardboard backing. Although this looks similar to the Test release, there are subtle differences (GE Fabbri, 2006e). 

Another scan shows what Issue 2 looked like when it was on sale. The cellophane was re-used for the main release; if you look carefully, you can see the cards on the packaging do not have rarity symbols (GE Fabbri, 2006f). The differences between the main release issue 2 and the Test release Issue 2 are:

The final promotional "special" for the exterminator set in the main run was issue 3, like the Test Release, this issue came with the final part of the Tardis collectors case, which was the Tardis Lid. There aren't many differences between the Main Set version and the Test Set, except the Tardis Lid design being less robust, and the cover now being a Krillitane rather than the Sycorax (GE Fabbri, 2006g).

Issue 12 was the first magazine that followed the release of the Annihilator set. Although most sets contained a separate pack of each set, Issue 12 was unique in offering only a dual pack in addition to the Exterminator pack. The Annihilator cards were the only set never to have separate Annihilator packs with magazines.

This edition came in a cellophane promotional pack. it contained two Invader card packs! 

Similar to Issue 26, Issue 39 came within a cellophane wrapper, containing two packs of cards. One Invader and a brand new Ultimate Monsters pack. 

The last of the Battles in Time magazines to come with cellophane packaging. Instead, they opted for a sticker rather than printed plastic. It contained two packs of devastator packs, each containing 12 cards. Some packs, however, included only 2 cards due to a quality control issue. 

The first special of Doctor Who: Battles in Time was published on 16 May 2007. It was edited by Claire Lister.

It focused on the Doctor's two greatest enemies, the Daleks and the Cybermen. As a flip book, it had two covers, Daleks on one side and Cybermen on the other. Unlike following special issues, this one did not introduce a new set of trading cards, only two packs exclusive to this special. Each pack contained 8 common foil cards and 1 rare (foil effects of regular Super Rare cards) featuring either the Cyber Leader or Dalek Sec. There were 4 variants of these rare cards (shown below).

The unique magazine also came with a Tardis tin and a set of stands and dice.

The second special of Doctor Who: Battles in Time was published on 5 September 2007. It was edited by Claire Lister.

The card-mounted special was priced at £5.99 and came with the following:

The first 11 pages of the special were available to view on the official Battles in Time website.

The third special of Doctor Who: Battles in Time was published on 5 March 2008. It was edited by Claire Lister.

The card-mounted special was priced at £4.99 and came with the following:

With this special and the corresponding series of cards, Doctor Who: Battles in Time formally integrated the "Classic Series" with the "New Series".

As before with the Invader special, the first 18 pages of the special were available to view on the official Battles in Time website.

The fourth and final special of Doctor Who: Battles in Time was published on 17 September 2008. It was edited by Claire Lister.

The card-mounted special was priced at £4.99 and came with the following:



Unlike the previous specials, the Devastator special was not shown on the Battles in Time website.